Clear Skies Make For Perfect Stargazing in Oklahoma

Thankfully, things have been quiet this week in Oklahoma. Although the temperatures might be chilly, there's a good chance to see some of the best views in some of Oklahoma's state parks.

Oklahoma Is Actually A Dark State

The Bortle scale is used to gauge how dark, or how little light pollution there is, in a state's nighttime sky. The skies with the most light pollution are given a 9 and the states with the least are given a 1.

Oklahoma has an advantage in this case with lots of rural areas and state parks reserved for natural habit; therefore, we have a 2 on the Bortle scale.

Darkest Parks in Oklahoma, Best For Stargazing

If you're wanting to enjoy the night sky, your best bet is to enjoy it as some of the darkest areas in the state. Thanks to A.I., we were able to make this list short and sweet. The darkest areas in Oklahoma, according to Chat GPT, are:

The light pollution in these areas is little to none, which makes these spots the most ideal when it comes to catching the best views of the night sky. But it's important to remember that you're only allowed to stay overnight on certain areas of each of these places.

General Camping Information For Oklahoma's Darkest Areas

The Black Mesa State Park actually has optimal stargazing spots usually available to rent. As of recently, though, the park has experienced storms and snowfall. In order to find out when you'd be able to head to Kenton, Oklahoma to get a spot, you'll want to contact the Park's officals.

The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge does allow camping at the Doris Campground. If you want to get an even deeper and remote spot on the Refuge, you'll need a special permit; especially if you plan on staying overnight and may need a fire to keep warm. Reservations are required and you can make yours here.

The Ouachita National Forest has both developed and primitive camping areas. Not all areas require a permit or reservations, but they are recommended during busy camping seasons to ensure you get your spot.

There are campgrounds within the Little Saraha State Park; some have RV hookups, others are best for tent camping. This park in particular is usually used for offroading, but you shouldn't run into that issue after the sun sets. Just be prepared when setting up during daylight hours that it may be a bit noisy.

The season for overnight weather outside is just about over, so take advantage while you still can.